Athens, GA (Dec 8, 2007) - ESPN's Andy Katz has joined Colin Cowherd in calling for the media to let Lute Olson's reasons for his leave of absence stay private.

All Lute Olson owed the University of Arizona team, staff, bosses and faithful fans was a decision about coaching this season.

He did that late Thursday night when he announced he would extend his leave of absence -- that was first announced on Nov. 4 -- for the rest of this season. He said in a school release that he would return next season.

That's all Olson had to do. Multiple sources close to the program told ESPN.com throughout the past month that the players and the staff needed a decision.

Olson had just started to come to practice within the past two weeks. As late as Wednesday, he was still actively involved in practices, letting assistant Kevin O'Neill run the practice but adding his input when needed. But the uncertainty of when, or if, Olson would return to coach in a game froze the program.

Now, the team and O'Neill, as the interim coach, can move ahead with the rest of what is still a promising season, especially after last Sunday's comeback win over Texas A&M in Tucson.

Now, it's up to the rest of us to leave Olson, who cited "personal issues" as the reason for his leave, alone.